by “Members often describe the CCDA Conference as a family reunion… and you are welcome at our family reunion.”
When I first read about the CCDA Conference, I was a little skeptical. Other conferences I attended have promised something similar, but haven’t always delivered. Could this one actually live up to the marketing material?
My answer: Yes, it can!
I am pretty new to CCDA. I didn’t learn about the organization and John Perkins until 2023. But this philosophy that unites CCDA practitioners is exactly what I had been looking for.
For years, I felt drawn to living a life characterized by doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God. I was moving toward a life of redistribution and reparations, which wasn’t accepted in many of the spaces I was in, but I knew it was where God was leading me. And when I found CCDA, I felt like I belonged in a way that I hadn’t experienced before.
Still, I was nervous attending my first CCDA Conference in 2024 because I was still so new! I didn’t have years of experience seeking the Shalom of my neighborhood like so many other attendees. I had only been around for about a year… Was there a place for me?
Yes, there was.
The theme of the 2024 CCDA Conference was “Home.” And that’s exactly what it felt like. Despite the fact that I was new and it was my first CCDA Conference, I absolutely belonged. I attended networking sessions where I met other people who were interested in the same things as me. The plenary speakers left me feeling inspired, and worship led by Common Hymnal provided the refreshment I needed. I was surprised at how quickly I felt I belonged–how quickly this place felt like home.
I’m so grateful that nearly 40 years ago Dr. John M. Perkins and other founders of CCDA gathered together to form this association. For decades, people from across the globe have learned from their wisdom and experiences to better love God and love their neighbors. And now I can learn from so many who are carrying their powerful legacy forward.
Beholding God Together
This year, we will gather in Richmond to behold God together. We will look at difficult things, but also the beautiful things in our communities. We will mourn together, remember together, and look to the new things God is doing together. This will also be a time to reflect on and honor Dr. Perkins’ life and legacy.
Whether you’re a veteran of CCDA, newer to this space, or somewhere in the middle, I cannot wait to see you at the CCDA Conference! I am looking forward to seeing you at this year’s family reunion!
